How to soundproof my rental unit?

[agster]

Hi there,

I am looking to reduce noise from my next door neighbours in a rental unit. They have 3 kids who runs and jumps around. The stomping echoes directly to my bedroom. At first I thought it was my neighbor above me but turns out it’s my neighbor next door. 

Interestingly, the echoes and vibrations is not too bad in my living room which is next to their place but unbearable in my bedroom! I think the sound travels through the ceilings? What can I use for this instance? Nothing permanent please as I am only renting.

Thank you, any advice would really be helpful 

[Jewelleryrescue]

Hi @agster 

Hi know the stress of your situation. 

I personally put on my own  music and listen to that and kids  will hear it to and they may  calm down. I am creating my own sound space the local sounds block out much incoming noise.

Even if you owned the house you could do a dozen of remidies in house improvement and it  may not be  enough.

Also  Consider noise cancelling technology the  chaepest is noise cancelling head phones.  Basically this technology inverts the incoming sound waves and plays them into the head phones or sound space all but nutralizing the incoming sound.

But as there is a tiny time  delay to inverter incoming sound waves this means part of the sound wave gets through.  The smarter systems will phase shift the  inverted sound wave to more completly cancel incoming noise.  This works best on things like lawnmower engines as it is constant and  predictable  where as it wont be as effective as random sharp sounds or kid noises.

Some  companies profess to be able to make quite sound bubbles in a roon utilizing  surround sound system I have not seen any solid facts on such a good development 

Well that is the best i have good luck

[Akanksha]

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, @agster. We're delighted to have you join us. 

Sorry to hear about your noisy neighbours. Great to see you've received advice from @Jewelleryrescue. Our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. expert @EricL will also be online later today and will be happy assist. 

While waiting, I recommend reading the guide How to soundproof your home by experienced renovator @Adam_W. We also have a Best Advice article on How to soundproof a bedroom which might come in handy.

You might also like to have a read through these previous topics on a similar subject in case they help: 

• How to sound proof the wall between two bedrooms in a rental? by @Christina2

• Soundproofing internal walls. by @Lucille

• How to soundproof a bedroom wall? by @ivanptr.

Hope this helps.

Akanksha

[EricL]

Hello @agster 

The ideal solution is to either add sound batts in your ceiling cavity if you have one or build a timber batten frame from which you can install sound insulation.

However, since you are in a rental property, I propose drawing a professional plan and doing a cost analysis for the project. I then suggest meeting up with your landlord at a nice cafe and making the proposal of altering the ceiling structure. You can then write down the reasons of how this will benefit them in the long run. 

I'm afraid temporary solutions will not be effective as any type of insulation will need to be anchored to the ceiling somehow. This means that it will be necessary to screw or nail a structure that will hold the insulation in place.   

A more radical approach would be to build a cubby house type structure that will isolate your bed from all the noise. A sort of room within a room chamber. The only drawback of course would be that it would get very hot inside that room.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[soozirich7]

I am looking for ideas on how to soundproof ceiling to floor windows in my Meriton rental apartment. (I mention it is Meriton because they do not allow any building alterations). I need ideas to reduce the traffic noise that is so bad it is like trying to sleep next to a rock concert. Thundering! 

I am definitely looking at sound proofing curtains. Check. 

We already have flimsy block out blinds that cannot be altered in any way. 

Block out curtains can be hung over them, so that's one viable option. 

Double glazing is definitely not an option as no alterations to the building are allowed plus I want to move out due to the noise at the end of my lease, in 11 months. 

Chalking is out, as are any other sealant options. Not allowed.

So, that leaves me with seeking ideas on applying materials to the glass to dampen the thunderous traffic noise, but stuff that can be removed when I move out. 

All ideas very welcome. Thank you. 

Soozi 

[EricL]

Hello @soozirich7 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about soundproofing your rental unit.

If you've had a chance at reading the suggestions made in the discussion, the only other recommendation I can make is to attach the Bastion 1200 x 600 x 30mm XPS Multi Use Foam Board with double sided tape to your windows and sliding doors. This will act as a buffer to the sound and reduce its transmission into your room. The less gap there is to the side of the insulation the less noise there will be. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendation.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @soozirich7 

Sound is interesting and the way it travel even more so. My loungeroom windows vibrate with certain sound frequences from people stereos as they past! Its not just the loudness its a bzzzzzz sound from the glass reverberating!

Its a common question on the forum about sound or heat transfer through windows.

Here is one idea that ive had bouncing around in my head. Its not great but may help.

Sunlite polywall clear twinwall types Shows a range of different types and sizes

Tho I like Suntuf 10mm x 2.4m Clear Sunlite Twinwal Polycarbonate Roofing the most

Second most is Sunlite 8 1.2 x 0.61m Clear Twinwall Polycarbonate Sheet - 1200mm 

Using Moroday 24mm x 30m White Double Sided PE Foam Tape stick 10cm strips (to start with) to the edge of the window just inside the frame to the corners and midway along the window. Then cut the twinwall you choose to fit. The theory and its only a theory is that the glass, then the 1.6mm airgap, then the twinwall plus the airgap should break up the sound much like double glazing. Id suggest to try one room and see if it works then apply to other rooms. With the size of the twinwall "wiggles hands" Maybe smaller is better? 

I did consider having the sheets up against the whole window frame but then I think the noise will still travel because of the larger air gap. (15cm ish) compared to the 1.6mm 

Last suggetion for now. If you have a balcony outside or are on ground level then maybe some tall plants in pots or the 2 x 1m Light Ivy Cloth Bamboo Expand Artificial Hedge to break up and deaden the sound before it gets to the glass of the window. (could be mounted using large pot plants with a post in them)

Dave

[Nailbag]

Hi @soozirich7 

being a rental you already know there its very little you can do if anything structurally. The foam boards @EricL has suggested is a start plus this sound deadening curtains your mentioned. However, both these are designed to sound deaden the internal space for acoustic reasons, not for blocking out external noise, though they will help. You need to create a cavity between the outside noice and your external wall which isn't possible in a rental. My sister lives in CBD Melb in her own townhouse and used this company successfully to reduce the train rail near her home. They might have a temp solution for you too. 

Nailbag